Background information
Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and China are the oldest civilisations in the world. Productive agriculture along large rivers always formed the basis for people to give up a nomad life and settle down. In the case of Egypt this was the river Nile, which is still the source of life for many. The Nile, consisting of blue and white Nile, is probably the longest river in the world (competing with the Amazon, the largest river in the world).
Tourism is well developed in Egypt and the Middle East and they know how to deal with tourists. On the one hand people can be very friendly and sincere, on the other hand they may try to over-charge and take advantage of you. Always negotiate the price for services and products in advance! Bargaining to bring the request price down is a must-do and almost a religion, not only for taxis or horse carriages, but sometimes even for fast-food restaurants and small supermarkets. Yes, as a tourist you may pay more for a bag of chips or shawarma sandwich. It is a very annoying practise.
Entrance tickets to pyramids and museums should always be paid with a credit card. This is to make sure that money ends up in the right hands and is not kept around somewhere. Tickets for attractions will have different pricing for tourists and locals, but I can understand this and somehow agree.
Egypt is a large country where most cities can be found along the Nile. To get around you can take flights, long-distance buses, trains or private transportation (cars, jeeps). Flights between Cairo and Luxor can cost anything from USD 40 to 300, depending on day, time and carrier. Buses are affordable, but can be uncomfortable and cold. Speeding is a common issue.
Egypt is a Muslim country like most Middle-East and North-African countries, where Islam is predominant with a Christian minority. This is manifested clearly in daily life, for example with mosques, daily prayers, dress-code for women, drinks and halal food. You will find lots of (flat) bread, hummus, falafel, meat and shawarma, but no alcohol or pork. Due to the dry climate green vegetables on the menu are also rare.
There are many organised tours to Egypt that take care of your transportation, accommodation and attractions at a reasonable price. There will be no money haggling, pushing around and last-minute departures while still enjoying the sights of this incredible country. Some tours also include Israel or Jordan.
Capital Cairo and the North
Cairo is the largest city of Africa, the economic and political heart of Egypt and the home to 22 million people. It is a buzzling and chaotic place to be, but a must-visit for tourists, even for a short while. Skipping the city would be similar to visiting France without Paris.
One main tourist attractions is Coptic Cairo with Christian churches built before the Islam Religion took over Egypt. The Hanging Church may have been a place where the Holy Family stayed after their flight from King Herod during their long journey along the Nile.
The Cairo Citadel, a walled fortress, with the beautiful Muhammed Ali Mosque and a view over the city is certainly worth your time. The Khan El Khalili market and surroundings are another place worth mentioning, though it can be really, really crowded there. If you take a Tuktuk when going there, you are already in for an adventure! (we did it and are still alive)
Alexandria, the other major city in the North, is a more Mediterranean, almost European city with long avenues along the sea. The Nile Delta, Library and the Catacombs are with the highlights there.
The 1st main attraction in the North of course are the pyramids of Giza, the last remaining wonder of the ancient world. They are amazing! When you walk through the desert, ride a camel or a horse, or sit in a carriage when visiting these 4600 year old buildings, you wonder “how” and feel really small and humble. Even with today’s technology it would be extremely difficult to build another Pyramid of Cheops, with gigantic stones perfectly lined up and a narrow path inside the pyramid to large chambers. It took them 26 years at the time… Maybe with help from aliens? The smaller Djoser step-pyramid in Saqqara, 40kms south of Giza, is even older.
The 2nd main attraction, even though established only in 2025, is of course the new Grand Egyptian Museum. You can find up to 50,000 pieces of history in this incredible building, including Tutankhamun’s treasures.
Tip: I really recommend that you stay at a hotel in Giza near the east-gate facing the Sphinx for the best experience. We stayed at the nice Akhnaton Hotel and the breakfast on the roof there with camels and horses passing is unforgettable. Do send greetings to Abdul, the Assistant Manager.
Luxor and the Valley of Kings
Luxor is a very pleasant mid-size city along the Nile. Luxor, formerly known as Thebes, has been nicknamed the 'world's greatest open-air museum', with impressive, ancient temples located in the city centre. The Nile boulevard down-town is full of lights, restaurants and shops. River cruises and Felukas arrive and depart here. The city is full of action, tourists and horse carriages. The “souk” market is interesting and pleasant. There are several luxury resorts along the Nile.
One main attraction is the 4000 year old Karnak temple. Most of this vast temple complex is in ruins, but one section is particularly attractive: the Great Hall, containing 134 tall columns covered with ancient hieroglyphs. Truly amazing! The Luxor temple is located in the very heart of the city, very accessible and more restored, with columns and statues.
The second main attraction however is the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs and other important people (like architects) were buried approx. 2500-3500 years ago. 62 Graves have been found already, with more still to be found. American Howard Carter discovered young Tutankhamun’s grave here in 1922. Tutankhamun was not a great or important pharaoh who ruled a long time, but his grave was almost intact when re-discovered. All other graves – till now – were almost robbed clean. On a day-tour you may visit the Valley of the Kings and several other locations (eg. Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple, Valley of Queens, Memnon Colossus).
Aswan and Abu Simbel
Aswan is a smaller city upstream the Nile, 3 hours south of Luxor. It is known to be a Nubian city, with people originating from southern Egypt and northern Sudan. Several tourist spots can be found linked to this culture.
Most people visit Aswan as a stop on their way to the great rock temples of Abu Simbel, 300 km away, on a long (costly) day-tour. Abu Simbel is a great temple built by Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great. The original temples were carved out of the rock 3300 years ago, but when the Aswan Dam was created and Lake Nassir was formed, the whole temple complex was moved to higher grounds, piece-by-piece. A huge undertaking, with special thanks to Polish archaeologists. Abu Simbel is now UNESCO Heritage and still beautiful.
Underwater world in the Red Sea
The Red Sea is a great place for snorkelling and diving. The waters are relatively cold, extremely clear and full of fish, coral reefs and ship wrecks. They can compete with any other great diving location in the world.
Good places to explore this underwater world are Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab and Aqaba (Jordan). Most of these places are beach resorts with excellent accommodation (3-4-5 star hotels), diving schools and boating activities. Aqaba is the largest city and also an important harbour.
All cities can be reached by air from Cairo. Hurghada and Marsa Alam can also be reached by bus from Luxor. A ferry connection between Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh existed, but this has been discontinued since approx. 2021.
The Sinai and Sahara Deserts
You can describe Egypt as a desert with one major river going through it. The Sahara desert is west of the Nile and the Sinai desert is found east of the Nile.
From Cairo it is worth considering to visit two locations in the desert on a day tour.
• The White Desert is an 8 hour drive from the city, one-way, mostly highway. The desert is quite unique with white sand and large rock formations. On a (recommended) 2-day tour you may sleep in a tent, with food provided, but without facilities. No worries: there are more tourists.
• El Fayum is a large oasis and one of the oldest cities in the world. You can find large dunes and a waterfall here. It can be reached by car and 4x4 from Cairo on 1-2 day tour.
The Sinai desert is a different story. Organised Tours may last 4 days and will take you across the Suez Canal, through this dry desert, to Mount Sinai (aka “Moses Mountain”, where Moses received the Ten Commandments) and Saint Catherine Monastery, the oldest monastery in the world. You may even stop or end in Sharm El Sheikh. You may camp in a tent along the way.